Krcek, Jaroslav

Jaroslav Krcek, born on April 22, 1939, near Ceske Budejovice in southern Bohemia, is a renowned Czech composer strongly influenced by his national folk heritage. He studied composition with Miloslav Kabelac and conducting with Bohumir Liska at the Prague Conservatory of Music. After graduation in 1962, he became a music editor for the recording company Supraphon, and also worked for Plzen Radio and Prague Radio. For over twenty years he has conducted the renowned ensemble Musica Bohemica, which has delighted many audiences at European music festivals. From his intensive study and long- time experience with folk music, Krcek has transformed nearly a thousand simple tunes into masterful arrangements. His catalog also includes three symphonies, a Double Concerto for Oboe, Harp and Orchestra, the opera Raab, the Harlot, which received an international prize in Zurich and many chamber compositions. His Four Renaissance Miniatures was commissioned by Trio Spektrum. All four movements are strongly based on modalitis, reflective of Czech folk music, with vivid, sparkling motivic elements, developed with clear vision.